The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-04-22


was as hard aud cold as steel it
self. The old feeling came back tC
him. Here was an opportunity tC
add fresh EOrrOr to the dreadful
drama which was being enacted all
: around him. Three pulls at the
weapon which he held in his hand
aud the pillows of fire fast rolling
I on wonld in an hour at most wipe
out The sin, the shame aud the sOr
, row forever.
"At that instant Salter, followed
by the woman, began the ascent Of
the stairs. The long suspense had
told on Everett, and in his nervous
ness, when he came to raise himself
i'll order to shoot the man in his
tracks who with ii light and jaunty
air was telling another mans wife
what he would do with her husband,
if he caught him, be made u noise
which was fatal to his plans. ln a
flash Salter had drawn pistol and
fired, Everett's weapon going of
but once, and that SO wide of the
mark that no damage was done.
Two, three and four times Salter
fired at the dark figure which in the
glare he could family distinguish In
the upper hall, and as no response
came he and the woman hastily
descended to the parlor to make
ready for flight. Mrs. Everett was
IN Mysteries aud would not leave
the place until her companion
made an investigation for the pur-
pose Of determining the identity of
his victim and making sure that he
was dead. The flames were rolling
all around them, aud it was evident
that not many minutes would
elapse before the block in
which the house stood would be in
ruins. With desperation marked
on every feature Salter examined
his weapon aud slowly began the
ascent Of the stairs. Agitated as
he was, he realized that if the work
had not been flushed 1t must be
done, and, after reaching the body
OfbiS victim, be first made sure that
it was that of Everett. No sign OF
life WAS visible. The mau did not
breathe. His flesh was already
clammY. He must be dead, the
murderer thoughf, but, to make
dOuhly sure, he closed bis eyes and
fired once more into the recumbent
form. Only the echo OF tue report
aud the shrek of the woman below
greeted his ears, and as he dashed
down the stairs both saw through
the half.shaded parlor window a
great sheet of flame burst from a
row Of buildings that stood across
the street. No time was to be lost.
Hastily assuring his companion
that he had made no mistake in his
man, Salter seized her by the arm
aud led her out.
"The street was then given over
to the flames. An occasional wag'
on dashed madIy 10y aud one or ;wo
fugtlves were to be seen making
such haste as they could toward the
north, but the multitude had al
ready gone. OIcc in the open air,
stifliug though it was, the woman
seemed to gain fresh life, and under
the reassuring words of her escort
came at length to believe that the
tragedy of which she had been a
y itneSS would never be known. AS
they were about to turn of toward |
the lake they stopped for minute |
and looked back. The street was
4 mass of fiames,and from the win
lows of the house which had so
recently been hers she could see
he red tongues dartIng gleefully.
Lu that fearful furnace they could
est assured that every vestige OF
heir crime would disappear forev-
n.
"Where they went, nobody knows.
rhe woman is still living, though
rot in Chicago. She left the city
ew days after the fire, but Salter
vas not in her company. She has
ever told where she left him, aud,
10 matter OF fact, has always de.
led that she was with him on that
light. happen to know, however,
What became of him. In their
light toward tue lake their foot
teps had been dOgged by man.
Pursuit under such circumstances
ras not the easiest thing iD the
TOrld. The streets were as light as
ay, and, except ia the fame and
moke, objects were visible at great
distances. Two or three times tie
gure which was darting here and
here through the streets and alleys
anne ont at sharp corners, expect
ng TO head them of, but each time
IithOut success. At length he was
ucc, ssful. BY making short cut
70 was able to put himself in a posi-
ion where be could see the pair
Omiug. La bis hand was a knife
hat had seen service IN a kitchen.
Is the fugIIIves rushed along they
and little attention to things
round them. Passing an alley ia
ihicb the shadows were yet dark
hey looked neither to the left nor
D the right. There was a fOotslep
med with their own, q cleaning
iece of steel on which The red light (
{ the condagratiOn was reflected,
nd a thrust in the back which call (
I one scoundrel to his final account.
Tith a shrek Of horror the woman
ed, aud was soon lost sight OF ia